Disclaimer: Same old, same old. I own nothing, etc.

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Krystal felt guilty about using her gift on Tabby, but she felt it was necessary. Tabby had looked like she was going to have a panic attack, and a panicked person is not a useful person. But there was no time to think about that now. The flames were hot and the little boy with the tail was still in the cage, which had tipped over from the force of the explosion. Krystal quickly examined the cage. It had dented slightly, but not opened. Now she definitely wished she hadn't sent Tabby away. The boy inside was laying very still. She asked if he was alright, but he didn't respond. She ran to the wall and grabbed the fire extinguisher. She tried to use it to douse some of the flames, but to no avail. Instead she went back to the cage and slammed the bottom of the fire extinguisher downward against the padlock. It held. She tried again. This time it popped open. She tossed the extinguisher aside and ripped open the cage door and grabbed the child. She felt for a pulse. He still had one. Good. He must have hit his head when the cage tipped over and fell unconscious. He was bleeding from glass cuts just as she was. Not good. He would need to get to a hospital. She picked him up and crawled back out the window. She wondered what she could do with him. The other children looked fairly normal, but this child was obviously a mutant. Krystal didn't trust human doctors to treat him. But where else could she take him? She couldn't take him back to base; she had already told Tabby to take the boat, and she doubted Magneto would want to take care of a child. Where else would they accept an obvious mutant? Suddenly, she remembered someone Magneto had talked about, and she knew exactly where to go.

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After Tabby left the children at the emergency room of a nearby hospital she went back to the docks and started the boat. The little girl from the first cage had pleaded with her not to leave them alone, but there was nothing Tabby could do. She had orders: get to Magneto.

The trip was short, and soon she was tying the boat to the makeshift dock at their island base. She entered the base, intent on finding Magneto. Mystique saw her first.

"What the hell happened to you?" Mystique's eyes roved over Tabby, taking in her disheveled appearance. Her clothes were scorched in many places, and her skin was covered in cuts and minor burns.

Then Mort saw her. Her saw her cuts, burns, and scorched clothing, but what he didn't see was Krystal. "Where is she?" he demanded.

Tabby replied in a monotone voice, "I have to speak with Magneto."

Mystique and Mort exchanged a glance. It was obvious what Krystal had done to Tabby, and that meant they would get no answers out of her until she completed the task Krystal gave to her. They stepped aside and let Tabby walk to Magneto's office. They followed her.

Tabby didn't knock on the office door, she just opened it and walked right in. Magneto looked up, startled. Her took in her appearance and his eyes narrowed.

"What happened?" He demanded.

"We were freeing the children. They were in cages. I threw a bomb. There was an explosion. Krystal told me to take the children and leave. She told me to tell you what happened." As soon as she delivered her message, Tabby 'woke up.' She blinked a few times, taking in her surroundings. "How did I get back here?" She looked to Magneto for an answer. She immediately wished she hadn't.

Magneto was furious. "You 'threw a bomb!' 'There was an explosion!'" he screamed. "What the hell were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself and Hypno killed! And what about those children? Are they alright? Do you even know?"

Mystique and Mort stood in the doorway, wincing as Magneto yelled. He was awfully intimidating when he was angry. The ruckus soon attracted Sabertooth.

"What the fuck is going on?"

"The newbies had some trouble. I guess there was an explosion. Hypno sent Boom-Boom back here, but I don't know where she is now," Mystique answered.

Mort stepped into the office. "Boom, where's Krystal now?" he asked, worry apparent in his voice.

Tabby looked down at her feet and shifted uncomfortably. "I-I don't know."

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Krystal approached the main gates of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters with a renewed confidence. At first she had been apprehensive of coming here; the X-Men were considered to be enemies, after all. But the little boy had woken up on the way over here and spoke with her. He told her his name was Michael and he had been born with a tail. Then he told her something that reinforced her decision. He didn't have any parents. He had been living in an orphanage when the scientists came for him. At first he was glad, he thought they were coming to adopt him and give him a home. He hated the orphanage. The other children were so mean to him. There was now no doubt in Krystal's mind that Xavier's was the perfect place to take this child. If anyone could help him, Charles Xavier could.

She pressed the intercom button next to the gate and waited.

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Scott Summers groaned. Who the hell would be at the gate at ten o'clock at night? He looked at the video screens and saw a girl standing at the gates with a small child in her arms. He pressed a button to allow him to speak with her. "Can I help you?"

"Y-yeah. There was a fire. I have a little boy here who's hurt and needs help. Can we come in?"

"Just a moment." He zoomed in on the video screen and saw the little boy had a tail, and it was wrapped tightly around the woman's waist. The boy was obviously a mutant, but what about the woman?

"She's a mutant too." Scott startled as the Professor wheeled up beside him. "They both need medical attention. Let them in."

Scott pressed the button again. "Stand back, I'm opening the gates."

The gates opened, and Krystal carried the child to the front door of the mansion. Jean Grey met her there, with Scott and the Professor behind her.

"Come on, let's get you to the infirmary." She stretched her arms toward the child, but he shied away, clinging tightly to Krystal. Krystal gave Jean an apologetic look.

"Maybe I should just carry him there."

"That will be fine." Jean looked Krystal up and down. "You look like you could use some medical attention as well."

Krystal nodded thankfully and followed Jean down the hall to the infirmary. "I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Krystal, and this little cutie here is Michael."

"I'm Jean Grey, and this is my boyfriend Scott Summers and the Professor, Charles Xavier. What happened to you two?"

"There was a fire. I got Michael out of there, but I was afraid to take him to a hospital."

Jean nodded and looked back at the professor, mentally asking if she should probe for more details. The Professor shook his head. He didn't sense any danger coming from Krystal or the little boy. They looked like they had been through a lot, and he saw no need to upset them any further.

When they arrived at the infirmary Jean told Krystal to sit Michael down on one of the beds. Krystal nodded and set the boy down. After a few soothing words he eventually let go of her and allowed Jean to look him over.

"Fortunately most of the wounds are superficial. He won't need any stitches. He has a pretty big bruise on the back of his head, however. What he really needs is a good meal and some rest. Scott, could you get him something to eat?"

Scott nodded and left the room. After he left Jean examined Krystal and helped her bandage her cuts.

"How did you get so many cuts?"

"We had to break a window to get out of the building."

Jean nodded. "You're clothes are pretty destroyed. Do you want to clean up, and we'll give you some clean clothes?"

Krystal smiled gratefully. "That would be wonderful, thank you."

Jean led her to a bathroom with a shower and handed her a towel and some clothes. Fifteen minutes later Krystal emerged from the bathroom dressed in gray sweatpants and a sweatshirt. She walked over to Michael's bed. He was dressed just like she was and happily finishing a sandwich.

"Hey Mikey! How are you feeling?"

He yawned. "Sleepy."

Krystal smiled. "Why don't you go ahead and get some sleep, ok?"

Michael smiled and snuggled under the blankets. He was asleep in moments.

Krystal turned to Jean. "Could I speak to the Professor, please?"

Jean nodded. "He went up to his office. I'll take you there."

They walked to his office and before Jean could knock, the Professor told them to enter. Krystal approached his desk.

"Listen, I want to thank you for helping us tonight. You've all been so wonderful. But I have to ask another favor. Michael doesn't have a family, and I have reason to believe he was being tormented at the orphanage he was staying in. There's no way that I could take care of him. Is there any way he could stay here?"

The Professor nodded. "I believe he can. He's a bit younger than the students we usually take in, but if he has no where else to go we certainly can't turn our backs on him."

Krystal smiled appreciatively. "Thank you. I can't begin to tell you how much this means to me. One more thing; do you think I could use your phone?"